Nigerian airlines have warned they will suspend all flight operations from April 20 unless jet fuel prices are reduced, accusing fuel marketers of artificially inflating costs.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), which represents around a dozen mainly domestic carriers, wrote to the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria on April 14, saying jet fuel prices had risen by about 270% since late February.
In the letter seen by Reuters, the group described the increases as excessive and not aligned with global trends.
“AON called the jet fuel increase in Africa’s most populous nation “astronomical and artificial,” saying it far outpaced global crude oil prices.”
“Currently, airline revenues are insufficient to cover the cost of fuel alone,” it added. MEMAN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
AON warned that raising fares further could reduce passenger demand, while a shutdown of operations could have wider economic consequences, including job losses, banking strain and worsening insecurity.
Jet fuel accounts for 30% to over 40% of operating costs for African airlines, compared with a global average of 20% to 25%, according to the African Airlines Association.
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Nigeria’s aviation sector consumed about 2.1 million litres of jet fuel per day last month, according to data from the country’s petroleum products regulator.
However, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Nigeria’s only domestic jet fuel producer, made no deliveries to the local market in March, the data showed.
At the same time, Kpler data indicated Nigeria’s exports of clean petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, kerosene and jet fuel, more than doubled month-on-month in March.
Dangote did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
What this means for Africa
When jet fuel prices jump like this, it doesn’t just affect airlines, it affects everyday people. Flights become more expensive, travel slows down, and in some cases, routes can even be reduced or suspended. That makes it harder for people to move for work, business, or family needs.
It also shows a deeper issue that when fuel supply and pricing are unstable, key services like aviation become unpredictable, and the impact spreads into jobs, businesses, and the wider economy.
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Image Credit: Daily Times Nigeria
